BLM invests in restoring abandoned wells in Wyoming
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to improve public health, safety, and the local economy
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming is putting a $2.9 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work, cleaning up nine orphaned well sites. The restoration funds will go to work on wells in Fremont, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Sweetwater counties and are part of a $50 million investment announced on February 22 by the Department of the Interior to clean up legacy pollution sites.
The targeted wells are in Fremont, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Sweetwater counties.
“The investments we are making in Wyoming this year will improve public health and safety, create good paying jobs, spur economic growth, and help our state address these orphaned well sites,” said BLM Wyoming State Director Andrew Archuleta. “It will also make public lands safer to visit and reduce methane leaks that can harm the ecosystem. We are pleased to be a part of this ongoing effort and look forward to providing more investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Wyoming.”
BLM will soon announce an opportunity to plug these wells through the federal government’s procurement website, SAM.gov.
The funds are part of a multi-year, $4.7 billion investment by the Department of the Interior to plug and reclaim hundreds of orphaned wells and restore public lands, national parks, national forests, and national wildlife refuges throughout the country.
BLM previously plugged orphaned wells and restored lands in Utah and California using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds and are currently working to plug and reclaim an additional 11 wells in our Worland Field Office. These investments tackle the long-standing problem of orphaned wells on our public lands by supplementing BLM's annual appropriated funding to address this problem across the nation, eliminating dangerous conditions and pollution caused by past extraction activities.
Please visit our website for more information about the Federal Orphaned Well Program.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.